Gulliver's Travels eBook

You are to know, said he, that several committees
of council have been lately called in the most private
manner on your account; and it is but two days since
his majesty came to a full resolution.

You are very sensible that Skyrris Bolgolam (galbet
or high-admiral) hath been your mortal enemy almost
ever since your arrival: his original reasons
I know not; but his hatred is increased since your
great success against Blefuscu, by which his glory,
as admiral, is much obscured. This lord, in conjunction
with Flimnap the high treasurer, whose enmity against
you is notorious, Limtoc the general, Lalcon the chamberlain,
and Balmuff the grand justiciary, have prepared articles
of impeachment against you, for treason, and other
capital crimes.

This preface made me so impatient, being conscious
of my own merits and innocence, that I was going to
interrupt; when he entreated me to be silent, and
thus proceeded.

[Illustration: “HE DESIRED I WOULD HEAR
HIM WITH PATIENCE.” P. 80.]

Out of gratitude for the favors you have done for
me, I procured information of the whole proceedings,
and a copy of the articles; wherein I venture my head
for your service.

ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST QUINBUS FLESTRIN,
THE MAN-MOUNTAIN.

ARTICLE I.

Whereas, by a statute made in the reign
of his Imperial Majesty Calin Deffar Plune, it
is enacted, That whoever shall lay hands upon
the empress, or upon any of the royal children, shall
be liable to the pains and penalties of high
treason. Notwithstanding, the said Quinbus
Flestrin, in open breach of the said law, under color
of extinguishing the fire kindled in the apartment
of his Majesty’s most dear imperial consort,
did maliciously, and traitorously, pull her by
the arms, and lift her high in the air in both
his hands, against the statute in that case provided,
&c., against the duty, &c.

ARTICLE II.

That the said Quinbus Flestrin, having
brought the imperial fleet of Blefuscu into the
royal port, and being afterwards commanded by his
imperial majesty to seize all the other ships of the
said empire of Blefuscu, and reduce that empire
to a province, to be governed by a viceroy from
hence, and to destroy and put to death, not only
all the Big-endian exiles, but likewise all the people
of that empire who would not immediately forsake
the Big-endian heresy. He, the said Flestrin,
like a false traitor against his most auspicious,
serene, imperial majesty, did petition to be excused
from the said service, upon pretence of unwillingness
to force the consciences or destroy the liberties
and lives of an innocent people.

ARTICLE III.

That, whereas certain ambassadors arrived
from the court of Blefuscu, to sue for peace
in his majesty’s court; he, the said Flestrin,
did, like a false traitor, aid, abet, comfort, and
divert the said ambassadors, although he knew
them to be servants to a prince who was lately
an open enemy to his imperial majesty, and in open
war against his said majesty.